Water restrictions relaxed

Water restrictions will be lowered from Level 5 to Level 3 from Saturday December 1.

The City of Cape Town says it views 2019 as a recovery year after having successfully emerged from the unprecedented drought.

This decision to lower restrictions comes after a meeting between the national Department of Water and Sanitation and the water users of the Western Cape Water Supply System, regarding the water assessment for the year ahead.

Cape Town mayor Dan Plato thanked residents, officials, and visitors to the city who helped save water during the drought.

“While the drought is not yet over, we have seen that there is room to bring some relief to our residents. I know it has been tough and I hope that this reduction in tariffs will bring some comfort over the festive season. We will still need to be water-wise though, as we do not know what the next rainy season holds,” said Mr Plato.

He also explained the conservation approach in lifting of restrictions.

“If one looks at international drought experience, water restrictions are either implemented too late or lifted too early. Hence our decision to take a conservative approach to the recovery while we continue to monitor the situation,” he said.

Due to the extreme economic and rural hardship that has been suffered as a result of the drought, the agricultural sector will only reduce water usage by 10% as it too enters a period of recovery.